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Phobospwns · 01-12-2018, 01:02 PM

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TASK ONE: Pick either of the teams currently in the finals. Which player had to overcome the most adversity to get where they are at now? What did they have to endure before finally getting their crack at the Cup? Must be 150 words and include two specific situations that player experienced en-route to the Cup finals, whether this season or at some point during their career.

Winston Windsor has had a rough road to get to this finals series. Sure, his isn't a career where he's never reached the playoffs, and he's even won a few cups- but that doesn't mean he hasn't struggled along the way. Winston was born and raised on the mean streets of London, where he had to scrap for every bit of respect he ever earned. When he entered the SMJHL, he had to endure the persecution of a harsh junior GM, by way of <a href='index.php?showuser=41' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-66'>JumpierPegasus</a>. Luckily for Windsor, just when it appeared his career may come to an early end, he was under competent management when JP was replaced by <a href='index.php?showuser=89' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-3'>Cuffy</a>. He got things back on track, and made it to the SHL- but the struggles didn't end there, he was forever undervalued, the crescendo of which was his brave self sacrifice to ensure the future of the only team that ever cared about him. He went on to finally hit a bright spot- winning a cup as a mercenary. Surprisingly, it wasn't his cup winning team that he became endeared to- it wasn't until his previous spot that he found a new home in Texas. Of course, the Great Tamper of S17 went down, and saw Windsor jettisoned from his only real home- to wind up in MAN, where he is once again playing the fearless merc attempting to deliver a cup. One last shot for a player who's had a tough road to hoe.

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TASK TWO: Who is your choice for the unsung hero of the S38 playoffs up to this point? Must be at least 150 words and include at least two statistics in support.

Geoffrey Allen has been the player who has come into the Manhattan roster and not only added a scoring (8 points himself, with 4 goals) element to help to push them over the top, his arrival also allowed Atmey (13 points in 14 games leading up to the finals) to move to the 2nd line, where he's become quite productive against lower competition (posting a +6 rating). When a team goes to game 7 in two instances in their march to the final, every single point scored is vital, and not only has Allen scored a number of points himself, he's helped the team as a whole score even more. More than just the on ice presence, of course, Geoffrey Allen brings with him the insight and example that comes with a player who has hoisted a Challenge Cup not so long ago himself. Surely he's been a leader in both tangible and intangible ways for the Rage, and I'm sure he won't be seeking any of the glory, regardless of how things turn out.

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TASK FOUR: What rookies or young players are looking to make a name for themselves during the Finals? How have they contributed to the team on the way to the Finals? Must be at least 150 words, and include two statistics.

There is one clear player who stands out as a youth who has already made a big name for themselves in this tournament, and who will undoubtedly continue to do so as we move into the finals. That player is none other than blue liner Roman Augustus, playing for the Calgary Dragons. Of the two teams, there are 2 rookies- 1 on each roster. The Manhattan Rage have Evgeny Yakikov, who hasn't even been able to muster a minute of playing time. In stark contrast, Augustus has been a force for his squad- scoring 8 points in 11 games (all assists), and so far posting a -2 rating. Granted, you'd love to see a positive +/-, but considering the level of competition this rookie is facing, that's god damned fantastic. At the same time, he's tied for 2nd on the team amongst defenders with 15 hits. No doubt that Roman will be a huge part of the MAN squad as they move beyond this season.

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TASK SIX: You’re the coach of a team in the finals. What changes would you make to the roster, lines or strategies of the team to give the team a better chance at winning the series? Must be at least 150 words.

Looking at the two teams, and how they stack up against one another, it's apparent that the biggest disparity between the two of them is shots for/shots against. The Calagary Dragons are managing 36+ shots for versus 31+ shots against, good for a +16.28% margin. Meanwhile, the Manhattan Rage are putting up under 31 shots per game, while allowing over 36, to give them a -10.93% differential. That has, to no surprise, led to the Dragons having a goal differential advantage over their foes (despite the fact that MAN is also in the positive in that regard). The Rage are going ot have to limit the opportunities for the Dragons, while bolstering their own- a tall task.

I would shit the 2nd defensive pairing of MAN into a 4-1 config, in an effort to make them more defensive- playing a trap game against CAL. You don't want to go too far with it, though, which is why I wouldn't touch the top defensive pairing- let them continue to generate offense. With the offensive lines, I'd roll the dice and hope that MAN's repeated 4th line could out duel CAL's- so I'd push them to 1-4 while dialing the top line version down to 2-3. Who knows if it would work... but I think it would give MAN a better shot of evening the chances- which I believe will be vital if they are to win the cup.

Tylar · 01-12-2018, 01:41 PM

TASK ONE:
Geoffrey Allen has had an amazing career in the SHL as a top forward in the league. Allen will go down as a Texas Renegades legend. Allen has had to endure a lot of adversity throughout his career as well as near the end of his Texas Tenure. Before leaving the Renegades the team had a tampering scandal with the new management. This led to the team Allen once loved and prided himself on, being dismantled by the punishment and trades. After this scandal, Allen was moved to Manhattan, and Allen had to move on from his first love and home, Texas. Another situation he had to deal with was Texas cheerleader Onyx the Dog. Onyx loves his life in Texas where he can freely poop anywhere he wants in the open space and amazing city. Now he has to move his dog to the big city of Manhattan where it is mostly concrete with not much green space. Where will Onyx poop now? This was a life changing move for both Allen and Onyx.Lastly Allen had to deal with the fact his body was likely done playing in the SHL and it would be his last SHL season and chance at a cup.

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TASK TWO:
The unsung hero for the Manhattan Rage would be Geoffrey Allen. Allen was once a top forward in the league but the grizzly Veteran has seen his play dip a bit. The retiring Allen has been a staple on the Rage's top line getting 8 points in 14 games. He averages 24.14 minutes per game which is really good for a veteran player. His 42 penalty killing minutes in these playoffs is outstanding (although the Rage's PK only sits at 78%). Allen also plays on the power-play. 4 of his 87 points have come on the man advantage. The Rage have a 21.62 power play percent which is a lot better than the Dragons at 15.79. So Allen's power play presence may be a difference maker. I think having a grizzled Veteran like Geoffrey Allen is making a massive difference on the Rage both on and off the ice. Allen brings cup experience and the winning mentality to any team. He is also motivated to win the cup in his last SHL season.

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TASK FOUR:
The player I would say is making a name for himself is Calgary Dragons defenseman Roman Augustus. The rookie defenseman has 8 points in 11 games on a strong Calgary Dragons team heading to the Finals. Getting 8 points in 11 games as a veteran defenseman is impressive enough, never mind as a rookie. This is a pretty amazing feat. He also has 14 shots block while averaging 21 minutes per game. Most rookie defenseman would be getting sheltered in the playoffs but Augustus is trusted by the Dragons coaching staff and their decision is working out pretty well. Another thing to look at is how Augustus has played 28 penalty kill minutes which is a significant amount for a rookie as well especially on a penalty kill working at 80%. Augustus is likely one of the most promising young defenseman in the game, and will likely get even better. The Calgary Dragons are heavily depending on him as a rookie in the playoffs, so the sky is the limit for this young defenseman.

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TASK SIX:
When looking at both teams up until the finals, The Calgary Dragons have scored 20 goals and allowed 14 against, whereas the Manhattan Rage 12 goals for and 12 goals allowed. The Dragons also average a lot more shots on goal than the Rage do and also allow less shots on net than the Rage. So I think the Rage need to generate more offense to score my goals while also not leaking shots on net. Looking at the lines, the Rage seem to have found a way to spread around the talent which is good. I would maybe try Atmey on the top line and moving Allen down to the second line, but that would likely not change much. I think maybe trying to have the second defensive pair play a little more defensive with a 0-4-1 could be a suggestion. I think its nice their defense produce offense (Windsor/Wolker are both in top 5 for the Rage and 3 out of the top 5 are defenseman) but I think maybe the Rage need to get some more production from their forwards.

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Wongy · 01-12-2018, 02:45 PM

Task 1
The player who had to endure the most adversity was Richard C. Hocolate. After being backup for 7 seasons behind Calgary great, Hunter Wong, Richard C. Hocolate finally got his chance in season 37, finally being announced as the starter. Through his first 7 seasons in the SHL, Chocolate played in 42 games. Finally in his 8th season, he played 44 games, already increasing his games played by 50%. Chocolate showed a lot of patience, waiting in the wings to take over for Hunter Wong, and he finally got his chance.

However, in his first season, he finished 9th in the league in save percentage with a .905 and 9th in the league in goals against average with a 2.85. In round 1 of the playoffs last season, he was not able to help Calgary make it past the first round and lost in 7 games to Seattle. This season, everything took a turn. He finished the league 5th in save percentage with a .908 and 3rd in the league in goals against average with 2.75. He is currently 8-2 in the playoffs and is looking to help Calgary win the Challenge Cup once again.

Task 2
The unsung hero of the playoffs is Esa Anrikkanen. While only having 4 goals and 4 assists so far in the playoffs, he does boast a +10 rating which means he has to be doing something right on the ice. No stranger the big stage, Esa is primed and ready to help the Dragons win another Challenge Cup, and Esa’s 4th himself. All the MVP awards will be looking at guys like Randy Randleman who has 16 points in 11 games or even Michael Boychuk who has 15 points and 25 shot blocks! However, if you look even closer to the stats, Esa has quietly been the clutch player the Dragons needed. With 1 game winner and 2 game tying goals, 3 out of the 4 goals Esa currently have could not have come at a better time. While not currently in the MVP race, the Dragons and the Dragon fanbase cannot thank this man enough. He has been clutch for the Dragons, and here’s to hoping that he continues.

Task 4
Roman Augustus is looking to make a name for himself in the finals. During the regular season for his rookie campaign, he finished the season with 3 goals, 15 assists and a -4. However, he did also have 78 shot blocks, which lead all of Calgary. Finally in the big spotlight in the rookie season, he is being thrown into the fire. He has handled everything very well so far, but the Challenge Cup is a whole new ball game. Stakes are higher, any mistake can be costly, every little detail can be the reason you win the cup. The Dragons will be looking at the rookie sensation to keep doing what he’s doing and helping C. Hocolate keep the puck out of the net. So far in the playoffs, he has no goals and 8 assists. He is not being asked to score, but helping his team score with 8 assists is no laughing matter for a defender. He has 14 shot blocks so far for Calgary, second only to Michael Boychuk. He is averaging 22 minutes per game. He has handled his first SHL playoffs well so far, let’s see if he can hold on and keep his emotions in check as he tries to make a name for himself as the best young defender in the SHL.

Task 6
The one change I would have made for Calgary would be to split up the two top scorers they had in the post season. After running into a hot goaltender like the Dragons have done to many teams before, I would have split up the duo of Joe and Randleman. These two players had 21 and 25 points respectively. I would have moved Esa to the top line who had 12 points in the playoffs, Randleman to the second line who was their best offensive player and Jagr to the third line, who was struggling in the playoffs. Yes, this may weaken their 3rd line, but, it was already having quite a bit of trouble in the first place. Doing this splits up Calgary’s dynamic duo, and makes the Rage have to cover these 2 players on two separate occasions instead of stacking up their best defensive pairing against Joe and Randleman. Another change I would have made was put Boychuk on the 1st line powerplay, he has been killing it so far in the playoffs, and has always been a clutch performer for the Dragons.

Mook · 01-12-2018, 02:54 PM

Task 2

There are alot of worthy players to talk about for this task but i have 1 person in mind. Sure everybody hears about Randy Randelman and Esa Anrikkanen. However there are plenty of other players on the Dragons who are less heralded but still make consistent contributions to our team's success. one of those players is Alex Mack. Mack does not often make the headlines but is acknowledged by his team mates and coaches as an important and valuable player on our team. Mack is a pass first forward that can easily fit on most teams 1st line as he plays a steady game. in the clubhouse he is known as "Mr. Consistency, Mack is relied on to help out on the second power-play unit and also provides leadership in our LR. In these playoffs Mack has 6 goals and 11 points in 11 games with a 17.65% shooting percentage in a little over 19 minutes of play.

Task 5

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TASK SEVEN: Design a t-shirt or a rally towel for one of the teams in the finals. Must include some text (a slogan), the teamâ€™s logo and a local sponsor for the giveaway.

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Dude · 01-12-2018, 02:56 PM

TASK THREE:

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TASK FIVE:

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TASK SEVEN:

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TASK EIGHT:

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Clint Eastwood, Jun 10 2018, 09:36 AM Wrote:Can't buy love, but love can buy a lot.

ErM · 01-12-2018, 03:11 PM

TASK ONE: Pick either of the teams currently in the finals. Which player had to overcome the most adversity to get where they are at now? What did they have to endure before finally getting their crack at the Cup? Must be 150 words and include two specific situations that player experienced en-route to the Cup finals, whether this season or at some point during their career.

Esa Anrikkanen is the player that has had to overcome the most adversity to get to where they are in the finals now. Esa Anrikkanen has been skilled enough to already win three Challenge Cups since he started his career in SEASON 18. Yes you read that right, this dude has been playing since season 18 and that has been the hurdle he’s had to overcome on his way to the S38 cup. Rumors are Esa Anrikkanen has said his 20th season in the league has been worse than the years he spent fighting in the trenches on the Western Front. Holy shit this guy is old! During this time there have been many situations that have made his journey to the season 38 finals difficult. First off, most of his friends are retired or dead. Esa has struggled to get in a groove with the rest of his teammates because he gets up at 3 AM and is home eating dinner by 2:30 PM, followed by bed at 3:30. His complicated schedule and low energy level have proved difficult to be a star on the ice, and his skills are regressing quickly! The second hardship Esa has recently faced was missing out on top prospect Tor Tuck. Rumor is Esa and Tor’s great great grandfather served together under Napoleon and Esa was hoping to take the boy under his wing. However, Esa has persisted and looks to make a run for his 4th championship.

<a href='index.php?showuser=1045' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-13'>Steelhead77</a>

TASK TWO: Who is your choice for the unsung hero of the S38 playoffs up to this point? Must be at least 150 words and include at least two statistics in support.

The unsung hero of the Season 38 playoffs at this point has got to be the rookie, Roman Augustus. First, it’s important to note that Augustus’ team has returned to the Championship series following his call-up and he has played a big role bolstering their back end. A lot of the Calgary Dragon stars are in the spotlight, and it is hard to argue when there are guys like Randy Randleman tearing up the league. But Augustus has been asked to step up and play in the biggest games as a rookie and he has stepped up to the plate and answered the call. Going into the championships Augustus is second on the Dragons in shots blocked with 14. Perhaps more importantly are his assist statistics where Roman Augustus is sitting at 8, 4th best on the Dragons. Augustus’ selfless play has been a big part of why the Dragons are winning games and guys like Randleman are leading the league in playoff points with ten!

<a href='index.php?showuser=2638' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-56'>TheDangaZone</a>

TASK FOUR: What rookies or young players are looking to make a name for themselves during the Finals? How have they contributed to the team on the way to the Finals? Must be at least 150 words, and include two statistics.

I’ve already talked about an unsung hero being a rookie so I do not see a scenario where I do not gush over how important Roman Augustus has been to the Calgary Dragons and his contributions to their run so far. We already talked about him having 14 blocked shots and 8 assists, on the top end for his team and great numbers for any defender in the league. These numbers are more impressive when you loog at the only other rookie in the league playing in the finals, where Evgeny Yakikov is sitting on the Rage with 0 minutes played. Augustus is averaging 21.92 minutes per game and I expect that trend to continue going into the finals. Roman is not a big hitter, with only 15 thus far in the playoffs, and I don’t expect that to change in the finals. However, the Dragons are going to need Augustus to keep blocking shots and getting the puck to shooters. If Augustus can help protect the net and make plays for scorers on the other end of the ice the Dragons can make a run for the cup and Augustus will cement his name among the league’s defenders. Augustus is currently 0/7 on his shots and I’m sure he’d love to sneak a goal in during this series too.

TASK SIX: You’re the coach of a team in the finals. What changes would you make to the roster, lines or strategies of the team to give the team a better chance at winning the series? Must be at least 150 words.

If I am the coach of the Calgary Dragons I would not go into the finals and make a bunch of roster tweaks to the rosters, lines, or strategies. My team is coming into the finals hot and as the favorite to take home the cup. I have clearly been doing something right and if it ain’t broke do not fix it. I do not know much about lines and strategies so I would stick to the crossing my fingers and hoping my good fortune continues for one more series. However, since I have to make a few changes for the sake of conversation there are a few things I would do to “increase my chances.” First, I would play Randy Randleman and Joe Kurczewski MORE minutes. Yes, I know some people are going to lose playing time, and other tears may be shed. But these two are currently sitting at +13 in the playoffs and they are unstoppable when on the ice together. I would give them more time. Second, once we were up 3-0 in the series I would play Esa Anrikkanen for an entire game. This would accomplish a few things: Sending a message to the enemy; it would be shameful for the Rage to see the old man putting the moves on them while on the ice in a walker. It would give Esa a glorious exit in what could very well be his last championship run, even if he died on the ice. P.S. – Dragons please make the second option a reality.

Slowpoke · 01-12-2018, 03:40 PM

TASK ONE: Pick either of the teams currently in the finals. Which player had to overcome the most adversity to get where they are at now? What did they have to endure before finally getting their crack at the Cup? Must be 150 words and include two specific situations that player experienced en-route to the Cup finals, whether this season or at some point during their career.

Change is always tough. But when you go from the team that you helped develop, to being traded away is even tougher. This is what happened to Geoffrey Allen. Allen spent a large portion of his career with Texas, and probably planned on retiring there. Then came a change of leadership, one bad mistake, and some undesired changes. This isnâ€™t Allen's first chance at a cup, having won it in S36 with Texas, he just never thought he would be playing for it in anything other than the black and silver. This is made even more difficult when you think about all the effort that Allen put in in Texas. Not making the playoffs, being last in the league, and being the laughing stock of the league. Allen stuck through all of it to finally reach the Promised Land, and then when it seemed he was going to be leading a dominant regime for foreseeable future, it was all taken away.

TASK TWO: Who is your choice for the unsung hero of the S38 playoffs up to this point? Must be at least 150 words and include at least two statistics in support.

I am going to go with another Renegades alum and say Winston Windsor. Windsor has quietly been the anchor that holds the Rage together. 3rd in scoring and leading the team with his body by blocking 36 shots. Normally this would be enough to receive attention, but when you share the roster with the likes of Wyatt Wollker, Luke Atmey, Bubba Nuck, and Ace Redding, it is easy to get lost in the noise. Windsor has always played responsible hockey, but not taking a single penalty thus far shows his commitment to making sure his team gets every advantage he can provide. Always level headed, always looking to get in the way of any shot heading towards the nets, Windsor has quietly been the anchor that holds the ship steady. Maybe when its all said and done people will notice that this is just what he has done his entire career, he has always been overshadowed by teammates, but maybe its his turn in the spot light.

TASK FOUR: What rookies or young players are looking to make a name for themselves during the Finals? How have they contributed to the team on the way to the Finals? Must be at least 150 words, and include two statistics.

He isnâ€™t a rookie, but Mike Izzy is still relatively young, and still looking to solidify his place on the Dragons' roster and in the league. Power forwards donâ€™t normally provide the offensive touch that Izzy has, but Izzy has stated from the beginning he is looking to break the mold. He sits in the middle of the scoring list for Calgary with 7 points, but 6 of those points are goals. Izzy gets to the dirty areas and makes the opposition pay for being lazy against him. He does lead his team in hits with 46 and may be the only real physical edge that the Dragons bring into this series. He plays on the second line and clears room for Shane Gagner and Jagr to do what they do best. These three may not be the best offensively, but they do offer a safety net defensively as they play very responsible hockey and allow fewer scoring chances than they generate. In the end, Izzy is looking to make himself a permanent fixture on the roster and put pressure on some of the veterans higher up the depth chart.

TASK SIX: Youâ€™re the coach of a team in the finals. What changes would you make to the roster, lines or strategies of the team to give the team a better chance at winning the series? Must be at least 150 words.

Currently the Dragons are running Kurczewski-Randleman-Anrikkanen on their top line, and this line has accounted for the lions share of their offense. Going against one of the most talented and experienced rosters in the league, they may need to shift some bodies around to provide some secondary scoring, and to be able to defend against the Rage's forward depth. The very first thing I would do, and its bold, is to move Mike Izzy up to the top line, and shift Randleman down to the 2nd line. Randleman is the Dragons leading scorer, while playing on the 1st and 4th lines. If he was allowed to play against the 2nd line, a slightly less skilled line, he may be able to provide that secondary scoring that I think they will need. Mike Izzy would also be able to provide solid defense and the physical game I spoke of earlier. I donâ€™t think that the Dragons will be able to score up and down the roster with the current lines. Shifting their defensive pairings around a bit may also help as Boychuk has been the only blue liner to really provide offensively.

BarnabasCollins · 01-12-2018, 06:25 PM

TASK ONE: Pick either of the teams currently in the finals. Which player had to overcome the most adversity to get where they are at now? What did they have to endure before finally getting their crack at the Cup? Must be 150 words and include two specific situations that player experienced en-route to the Cup finals, whether this season or at some point during their career.

The player facing the most adversity to get to the cup without a doubt would be Dean Colt. A truly polarizing figure in the SHL this is the 2nd incarnation for Mr Colt. And that is where some of the adversity kicks in. The previous Dean Colt was a fairly decent player who's career ended on a sour note when he abruptly retired on Seattle out of spite. That in itself would have Colt V 2.0 starting with a somewhat dubious reputation. Then 2.0's season in Minnesota in season 36 where he played 50 games and averaged a whopping .03 minutes a game while putting up zeroes across the board in the stats department. So for 2.0 to make it to the finals in Manhattan is truly a surprising event. But probably the biggest event that made it difficult for Colt to make it to this point was the banning of the :mac: emoji, a photo of Hope Solo's asshole, which was at the the one of the most popular emojis on the SHL slack. This blow would have crushed a normal SHLer but Colt somehow pulled himself together enough to make it into a finals lineup. Therefore we salute you oh Mighty :mac: !

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TASK TWO: Who is your choice for the unsung hero of the S38 playoffs up to this point? Must be at least 150 words and include at least two statistics in support.
The unsung hero for the playoffs so far would have to be Winston Windsor of the Manhattan Rage. Windsor came to Manhattan in an offseason trade with Texas and put up a pretty respectable 38 points in 50 games for the Rage last season, which was good for 7th on the team. Manhattan has alot of other offensive weapons in Hans, Allen, Redding, Atmey and Wolker so just a respectable effort was all that was really expected of Windsor in the playoffs. However he decided to really step up his game and he is 3rd in postseason scoring for the Rage with 11 points in 14 games. He also leads the rage in blocked shots with 36 in those 14 post season games. The Rage have 2 legendary defenders already on the team in Wyatt Wolker and Bubba Nuck but it is the quiet reliable defender Windsor who is providing a lead role for his new team.

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TASK FOUR: What rookies or young players are looking to make a name for themselves during the Finals? How have they contributed to the team on the way to the Finals? Must be at least 150 words, and include two statistics.

There is only one rookie who is truly making a name for himself in these SHL playoff and that is Calgary defender Roman Augustus. Augustus had a decent but fairly quiet season with the Dragons with 18 points in 50 games but that was good enough for 2nd place in scoring for all Calgary defensemen. He was a -4 and also he did lead the team in blocked shots with 78. So he looked to be a pretty solid defender who could chip in a bit of offense from time to time behind veteran Michael Boychuk. He has however turned into a more offensive force in the playoffs with 8 points in 11 games for the Dragonswhile blocking 14 shots. This pleasant surprise for Calgary was a huge boost as they were not expected to move past the first round but have managed to upset 2 teams en route to the finals. Young players stepping up is exactly what was needed and the Dragons got that in Roman Augustus.

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TASK SIX: Youâ€™re the coach of a team in the finals. What changes would you make to the roster, lines or strategies of the team to give the team a better chance at winning the series? Must be at least 150 words.

Going into the finals Manhattan has been playing a pretty physical game, getting alot of hits over there opponents. Although their strats aren't calling for it this physical play has amounted to them giving up a great many shots. And while they have some great offensive players on the blue line like Wolker, Nuck and Windsor I think they need to focus more on defensive strats if they are going to beat the Calgary Dragons. They are currently running the first two defensive pairings at 40% and at 0-3-2. I would wither lower that percentage and up the 0-5-0 strategy that they currently have at 10% or I would go to a 0-4-1 star to make things a bit tighter defensively. Calgary has been the hottest team for the past few weeks and they have a ton of momentum on their side right now after two huge series upsets. I think all those hits are just going to create more opportunities for a veteran GM like Esa to exploit. If I were Manhattan I tighten up on the back end and make Calgary work alot more for their offensive opportunities.

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CBear · 01-12-2018, 06:45 PM

TASK ONE: Pick either of the teams currently in the finals. Which player had to overcome the most adversity to get where they are at now? What did they have to endure before finally getting their crack at the Cup? Must be 150 words and include two specific situations that player experienced en-route to the Cup finals, whether this season or at some point during their career.

I think that Richard C Hocolate is a player that has had to undergo some of the most adversity to get to this point. The Dragons are notorious for getting to the playoffs, notorious for being dangerous, and gee they just like to win. But ol Dicky has spent most of his time as a back up. Apparently being a goal tender is tough in the SHL, nevermind being a back up goaltender and sticking with it! So cheers to Dick for finally getting the starting gig. The Dragons had a hell of a time this season and barely made it in with a strong surge at the end. Tasked with playing with the 1st overall San Francisco Pride, and then the high octane Winnipeg Jets. He handled both teams amazingly well and has taken the Dragons into the finals. So, as much as I donâ€™t want the Dragons to win (because they beat us), Iâ€™m hoping the best for this tender as he has waited a long time for his moment in the sun, and has taken down some powerhouse teams to get there.

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TASK TWO: Who is your choice for the unsung hero of the S38 playoffs up to this point? Must be at least 150 words and include at least two statistics in support.

My unsung hero of the S38 playoffs is once again, Richard C Hocolate. Dick has taken the reigns of starting goal tender and has stood on his head and made save after save. Beating the San Francisco Pride in 5 games, followed by the Winnipeg Jets in 6 making his record 8-3 so far. The Winnipeg Jets had the highest goals for rating this season with 4+ goals per game. Mr Dick Chocolate steps in and shuts the door for a shut out in game 2, in hostile enemy territory in Winnipeg (screw youâ€¦ â˜º ). Through 11 games and about to start the Finals, Dick C Hocolate has a 2.83 Goals Against Average, and a .904 Save Percentage. This doesnâ€™t put him at the top of the leaderboard for goalies, (4th for Save %, and 4th for Goals against average), but he has had to contend with the leagues overall number 1 and number 2 teams. Well played sir. Well played.

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TASK FOUR: What rookies or young players are looking to make a name for themselves during the Finals? How have they contributed to the team on the way to the Finals? Must be at least 150 words, and include two statistics.

Roman Augustus of the Calgary Dragons is rolling on his rookie season and into the finals. The Dragons havenâ€™t been in the finals for a while. Augustus joins the team, and voila â€“ they made the finals. Clearly, itâ€™s all because of the brilliance that Augustus brings to the team. Roman Augustus is a second pairing defenseman with Pierre â€“ Luc Laflamme (sorry, these names are haunting me with their current victory), have been quite solid for the Calgary Dragons thus far. Through 11 games, Mr. Augustus has 8 assists, -2 (hey, which isnâ€™t bad considering they beat both the San Francisco Pride AND the Winnipeg Jets), 15 hits with only 6 penalty minutes, and laid the body 14 times for shot blocks. All this on a trustworthy (close to) 22 minutes per night. He hasnâ€™t cracked the powerplay unit yet, but against is a trust worthy source on the penalty kill. Considering that as a forward, I only had like 14 points in the whole rookie season (50 games), and Augustus has 8 points in 11 games IN THE PLAYOFFS. Iâ€™d say â€“ the future is bright for this kid and the Calgary Dragons (dang.)

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TASK SIX: Youâ€™re the coach of a team in the finals. What changes would you make to the roster, lines or strategies of the team to give the team a better chance at winning the series? Must be at least 150 words.

The Calgary Dragons vs. the Manhattan Rage. Looking at Line up Strategies, it looks to be a game of depth and balance vs. run and gun with the top guys â€“ they have all off season to recover! The Dragons are running a 35 / 30 / 35 split between 3 lines (line 4 is just a repeat), while the Rage are a 45 / 45 / 5. With all the hate that the Jets got last season, obviously the Rage should be balancing their team. Right? But hey, the Jets with their 2 lines ended up winning the whole she â€“ bang last season. During the season, I like the way the Dragons play. In the offseason, I like the Rageâ€™s tactics. To win you have to play your best players. For the Dragons to win, I would match up my lines a bit better. You donâ€™t want your 3rd liners to get caught out their against the Rageâ€™s top lines too often. But the Rage have to factor in fatigue vs. an energy building / TSN turning point 3rd line of the Dragons.

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ej27 · 01-12-2018, 08:14 PM

TASK THREE: Design the Challenge Cup Finals logo that will be included on both jerseys. Must include S38, the SHL logo and some sort of representation for each of the two teams in the Finals.

[Image: jymj5St.jpg]

TASK FIVE: It’s Zamboni time! The teams have been asked by the SHL offices to re-design their Zamboni with a Finals theme. Please use your creativity on this and make it specific to one of the teams in the finals. Must include a logo from a team in the Finals and a color scheme appropriate to the team.

(The Platoon refuse to resurface their ice with a zamboni bearing another team's logo, but they have a couple of these promotional lego zambonis that Slappy McDoodle gets in his happy meals and they use them as pucks sometimes.)

[Image: YvuPCIf.jpg]

TASK SEVEN: Design a t-shirt or a rally towel for one of the teams in the finals. Must include some text (a slogan), the team’s logo and a local sponsor for the giveaway.

[Image: vgoJO0D.jpg]

TASK EIGHT: Design the Championship Banner for the S38 Challenge Cup. Must include team logo, team name and at least one render.

[Image: AfQr9Jq.jpg]

DollarAndADream · 01-13-2018, 03:54 AM

TASK ONE: Pick either of the teams currently in the finals. Which player had to overcome the most adversity to get where they are at now? What did they have to endure before finally getting their crack at the Cup? Must be 150 words and include two specific situations that player experienced en-route to the Cup finals, whether this season or at some point during their career.
I think Richard C. Hocolate has had to overcome a lot in Calgary to get to where he did. He was always behind another elite, storied, veteran netminder in Hunter Wong. Wong was the one who carried the Dragons to the cups that they have had over the past little while, and Dick was on the bench behind him for a number of years. He was in the backup role, having to watch Wong between the pipes winning the games for Calgary. Hocolate also had to go on a beastly roll to get the Dragons into the playoffs, who were not a sure bet to get there half way through the season. Calgary stormed in, and Dick Chocolate made a name for himself taking out two strong teams, and barely getting beaten out in the Challenge Cup Finals. If it was not for the play of Dick, Calgary would not be where they were in the finals, and he has really been showing everyone that he can definitely take over the reigns from Hunter Wong.

TASK TWO: Who is your choice for the unsung hero of the S38 playoffs up to this point? Must be at least 150 words and include at least two statistics in support.
I think the unsung hero for me in these Challenge Cup playoffs would be none other than defenseman Casey Creller on the Calgary Dragons. Sure, he did not put up a ton of points, or log a ton of minutes. He had 1 goal and 1 assist in 17 games for the Dragons, and averaged 14.03 minutes per game. What he did bring to the table though in his lesser minutes was very impacting. He put up 33 hits and 22 shot blocks, and was even an even plus/minus. Creller was a menace out on the ice, hitting every shift, especially with his 33 in 17 games with only 14 minutes per game. He laid the body on a lot of his opponents, and was intimidating to the other team. Not only that, but he got in front of a lot of shots, helping out goaltender Hocolate. He hit more and blocked more than a lot of his teammates who played double the minutes.

TASK THREE: Design the Challenge Cup Finals logo that will be included on both jerseys. Must include S38, the SHL logo and some sort of representation for each of the two teams in the Finals.

TASK FOUR: What rookies or young players are looking to make a name for themselves during the Finals? How have they contributed to the team on the way to the Finals? Must be at least 150 words, and include two statistics.
Roman Augustus on the Calgary Dragons make a name for himself in these playoffs for his team. Sure, he was not some huge, impacting player and was also a -4 in the plus/minus column, but he contributed out there and did more than some of his veteran teammates. He put up 9 assists in 17 games, but no goals, however. 9 points though was better than veterans Jagr, Izzy, Pedersen, Laflamme and others on the Dragons. He also had 24 hits and 21 shot blocks, which could make him a bit of an unsung hero himself if I had not already picked Creller for that one. Roman was a big impact on the ice and in the finals, and logged 21.79 minutes per game, which is a lot for a rookie. He looks to be a great player already for Calgary with a good career to follow.

TASK FIVE: It’s Zamboni time! The teams have been asked by the SHL offices to re-design their Zamboni with a Finals theme. Please use your creativity on this and make it specific to one of the teams in the finals. Must include a logo from a team in the Finals and a color scheme appropriate to the team.

TASK SIX: You’re the coach of a team in the finals. What changes would you make to the roster, lines or strategies of the team to give the team a better chance at winning the series? Must be at least 150 words.

TASK SEVEN: Design a t-shirt or a rally towel for one of the teams in the finals. Must include some text (a slogan), the team’s logo and a local sponsor for the giveaway.

TASK EIGHT: Design the Championship Banner for the S38 Challenge Cup. Must include team logo, team name and at least one render.

//

Muerto · 01-13-2018, 04:59 AM

TASK ONE: Pick either of the teams currently in the finals. Which player had to overcome the most adversity to get where they are at now? What did they have to endure before finally getting their crack at the Cup? Must be 150 words and include two specific situations that player experienced en-route to the Cup finals, whether this season or at some point during their career.

Luke Atmey of the Manhattan Rage has played through a lot of off-ice adversity to lead the team to the finals. When he was drafted, it was expected that he would be the face of the Hamilton Steelhawks for many seasons, but it wasn't long before they decided he was not the answer, and shipped him off to Manhattan for a lottery pick. It must not have been easy to feel a team had given up on you that early, but he gets the last laugh now as he's playing in the finals as the best player on the Rage. He also has high expectations of himself, and was not happy with his regular season, despite scoring 25 goals. He felt a move down to the 2nd line was not indicative of the type of talent he has. However, that move made him the undisputed go-to guy on a line with Kennedy and Jesus. Without him, that line struggled to score. But when he is on the ice, he takes command as his team-leading 13 points after the 2nd round were more than the combined totals of his 2 line-mates. Despite getting less ice time than players of his caliber, he still leads the way and proves time and time again that he is the player the team leans on, no matter where he plays in the lineup or how many points he gets, it's the clutch play like an OT goal in game 7 that makes any past disappointment be forgotten!

TASK TWO: Who is your choice for the unsung hero of the S38 playoffs up to this point? Must be at least 150 words and include at least two statistics in support.

My pick for the unsung hero award is not actually a player at all, but I feel his efforts as coGM should not go unrecognized. TheRealBK stepped into a management role after I was unceremoniously relieved of my GMIng duties after missing the playoffs 3 seasons straight. The situation for the Rage was playoffs or nothing, and he was the force behind the major moves needed to get the Rage to the Finals.
First off, he made a bold trade to sacrifice a 1st round draft pick to obtain 2 retiring players in Allen and Windsor. This move served 2 purposes, in that Allen was able to replace the FA departure of Sarantez, and Windsor immediately strengthened the blue line to where they had 4 legitimate top tier defenders.
The next big move he made was before the trade deadline, he went out and acquired the 1 piece we needed to stabilize our top 9 forwards, by bringing in Bennett Jones for practically nothing. Might seem like a small move, but it made a huge difference as it made our 3rd line more competitive - to note, a line that was -22 before the trade and +1 afterwards. This move helped to cut down on the goals against and solidify the roster to where it was competitive up and down the lineup - obviously paid off as the team made it to the playoffs handily.
Finally, as he made the line changes and strategies in the playoffs, adapting as things progressed to gain favorable matchups, especially after the team went down 3-0 against MIN, I know they will cry that STHS fucked them, but really it was BK who recognized where the team needed to adjust and was able to turn it around and the team made history by coming back and winning the series. We all have full faith in him that he will be able to make the tweaks we need as the series progresses to give us the advantage as the finals progress.
Taking a team that finished last place in the East just 1 season ago, and now they are playing for a shot at the Cup, that is outstanding GMing and coaching, so kudos to him, and Nuck, for what they have accomplished this season!

TASK FOUR: What rookies or young players are looking to make a name for themselves during the Finals? How have they contributed to the team on the way to the Finals? Must be at least 150 words, and include two statistics.

Crossfit Jesus of the Manhattan Rage was a minor role player for the team when they won the Challenge Cup in S34 - as a call-up from Juniors for the final round, he saw limited ice time, but was rewarded with a Cup Ring. This time around, he is playing a much more significant role as he has been a staple on the first or second line all season. As the playoffs have progressed, he's played mostly on the 2nd line, matched up with Kennedy and Atmey. Although ATmey has been the most productive member of this line, CFJ has been no slouch. He had no goals in the forst round, but in the second round against MIN he scored 3 times, including a goal and an assist in the decisive game 7 victory. This shows that when the team needed some clutch scoring, CFJ stepped up and was able to bury his chances and help the team dig themselves out of a deep hole. He has been doing a great job both generating opportunities as he had 42 shots in the first 14 games, but also defensively as his +5 rating shows that he is not forgetting his responsibilities in his own end.

TASK SIX: You’re the coach of a team in the finals. What changes would you make to the roster, lines or strategies of the team to give the team a better chance at winning the series? Must be at least 150 words.

The Rage GMs have been doing a good job in the playoffs of making adjustments to the lines and strategies where necessary. When they were down in the series to Minnesota they made some lines and strategies adjustments which was key to turning the flow and regaining momentum in that series. They have lots of options in terms of how they deploy the players and what strategies to use. I think they are doing just fine! However, if I was the GM< the only roster moves I would make would be to call up the prospects from the SMJHL, especially Xavier LaFlamme and Elias Petersen. You don't even necessarily have to give them a ton of ice time, heck slot them in as extra forwards or even just bench players. They might get a few minutes of ice time but not so much that the team would need to rely on them. The benefit is, it makes these players feel more like part of the team and rewards them for their hard work in juniors. If the team happens to win, they get a cup ring to brag about (right, Crossfit?! Wink

There really is no downside to a move like this, it doesn't affect the chemistry of the team at all but gives some young guys a taste of what the SHL playoffs are all about and make them eager to get back! Plus, it hopefully would boost good karma and that is always needed!

kckolbe · 01-13-2018, 02:58 PM

TASK ONE:
My pick for the “Uphill Battle” award is Bubba Nuck, defenseman for the Manhattan Rage. Nuck has had a hard road getting to the finals. For starters, I will admit that he has had a pretty admirable career, having already won 4 championships and now looking at a possible number 5. Hell, I would love to have a career like that. Ya know what? Fuck him.

All right, that’s not fair. The truth is that the entire Manhattan Rage went through a rough patch with the loss of their GM. Nuck, as one of the team leaders, was very involved in the vetting process for new management. Reportedly, all applicants had to sit with him before being formally considered. That took a lot of time away from training. And despite being a skilled veteran, Bubba Nuck does need the practice. The years have not been kind to Nuck, who is having to fight the damage his years have done to his ability.

TASK TWO:
Bennett Jones of the Manhattan Rage may not be a top talent in the league, but I consider him to have been a major factor in Manhattan having made it this far, and if they win it all, he will be a reason. Jones has only spent 189 minutes on the ice, a full two and a half hours less than teammate Wyatt Wolker. In that time, however, he has played amazing hockey. To begin with five blocked shots would be impressive for ANY forward over an entire season, much less a backup over 14 games. That ability to hold opponents in check might be all a GM would ask for from depth players, but Bennett Jones has also scored six points, with one goal and five assists. Being good enough to limits goals allowed while aiding goals scored makes him good enough to be on the ice in any situation. For that combination of performances, leading to a +/- of +5 overall, Jones is the unsung hero of the playoffs.

TASK FOUR:
Dean Colt is not a rookie. Personally, I didn’t check to see if he played in the SMJHL last season or not. He was drafted into the SHL in Season 36, so as far as this guy is concerned, his rookie season was SEASON THIRTY SIX. It is ridiculous that a player can spend five years developing in the minors and then go to the top line of an SHL team, likely on his third contract, and be considered a ROOKIE. I’m not buying it. Colt is a young player, though, and he is definitely been making a name for himself in the playoffs so far. I strongly considered him for the unsung hero write-up. I’ll start with this: 12.5%. That was his shot percentage. Granted, small sample size, but one area where Colt is clearly impressing is with a +/- of +5. With his efficient shooting, capable defense, and clean skating, Colt has been a valuable asset so far, and I don’t see it stopping.

TASK SIX:
I suppose that if ANOTHER general manager from the Rage stepped down, I could get the job. Might as well show what I have to offer by taking a successful formula and fucking it all up. (Note to Manhattan Rage GMs: Do NOT implement any of the following strategies. I will convince myself they are good ideas, but I do not know what I am talking about.) I would move Bubba Nuck from top D line down to second, moving Hunky Monkey up. Nuck is clearly the higher TPE player (1426 to 936), but a glance at the scoring shows that Nuck has been unable to keep up on the top line, amassing 22 minutes of penalties in just 14 games. Now, I cannot deny that Nuck is an absolute force on defense, blocking shots and laying out constant hits, but his penalties more than make up for that, leaving his team exposed. Monkey plays a more conservative game, bringing a reliable presence on the ice.

aumicc83+ · 01-13-2018, 03:18 PM

Quote:TASK TWO: Who is your choice for the unsung hero of the S38 playoffs up to this point? Must be at least 150 words and include at least two statistics in support.

Mike Izzy - Dragons

One of greatest players on SHL - only 3 seasons here, but already more than 1000 TPE. He was one of first players of SHL with who I started talk. We was good friends and I am happy to see that he need only one more step to get that champion title. I can say that Izzy is hero of S38 Play-Offs right now. He is doing a lot of black job. In regular season he made 15 goals and 16 assists in 50 games, but in Play-Offs he got 6 goals and 1 assists in 11 games, before big finals. I think that Izzy will be a reason why Dragons will win another one champion title. On regular season, Izzy got 4 more points than legend - Esa from Calgary. So, there is no more questions who are Dragons hero and all Play-Offs hero. I hope that I will say all corectly and Izzy will show best of him in next 4 games - Dragons in 4!
<a href='index.php?showuser=2585' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-59'>Coach Biz</a>

Code:
165 words

Quote:TASK SIX: You’re the coach of a team in the finals. What changes would you make to the roster, lines or strategies of the team to give the team a better chance at winning the series? Must be at least 150 words.

I will make sure, that I would be Dragons coach, cause they are in Finals.
Maybe that would be funny, but I would let more play to new players that they can show what they can, cause Rage is not very good opponent. I would let second goalies at least on 3 games in goal and I would make Izzy as a captain in Finals, cause he shows really good hockey all season long and he do all the things on the ice what need player to do. I think that I would put Mike Izzy on first line with Esa and Shane Gagner, but Randy Randleman would be on second line with Joe Kurczewski and Jagr. 3rd and 4th line would stay on same place as they are right now. We would play very aggressive and we would more play on offense. We wouldn't let Rage get play offensively a lot. I guess, we would win them in 6 or less games. Sooo... Dragons can think that I am their coach and we will win another title. Towel

Code:
179 words

Quote:TASK SEVEN: Design a t-shirt or a rally towel for one of the teams in the finals. Must include some text (a slogan), the team’s logo and a local sponsor for the giveaway.

idk, why there is .png sh*t on.

<center>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</center>

Quote:TASK EIGHT: Design the Championship Banner for the S38 Challenge Cup. Must include team logo, team name and at least one render.

MWHazard · 01-13-2018, 03:56 PM

<div align="center">TASK TWO: Who is your choice for the unsung hero of the S38 playoffs up to this point? Must be at least 150 words and include at least two statistics in support.

I think that these are two teams that have plenty of talent and definitely some name recognition. That being said, Bennett Jones impressed me these playoffs. His statline isn't the flashiest, but I think he played a very clean finesse game in pretty limited minutes. He only skated for 13+ minutes per night, but he did put up a nifty eight points in twenty games. More importantly, he was strong in his own end, with a +5 rating. He didn't hit at all, actually, but he only got tagged 12 times. That's not too bad! Plus, he had a lower shooting percentage of just 7.42%. Given his 42 shots, I bet he scores a few more times if we simmed again. Nevertheless, when you're a third liner playing short minutes, you're being asked to stay responsible and contribute when you can. Bennett Jones did that very well in these playoffs and it's to his credit.

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TASK FOUR: What rookies or young players are looking to make a name for themselves during the Finals? How have they contributed to the team on the way to the Finals? Must be at least 150 words, and include two statistics.

Well, the only rookie getting any actual ice time in these finals would be St Louis Scarecrows alum Roman Augustus. In seventeen games, Augustus did not score a goal, but put up nine assists. He struggled a bit in these playoffs, going minus-four in nearly twenty-two minutes of ice time per game. Augustus did well to throw 24 hits against 19 hits taken, and he blocked 21 shots. What he won't feel great about is the twelve penalty minutes he took. This is all a floor for him to improve upon in the rest f his career. The Dragons are a perennial playoff hopeful at worst. He'll get more chances. Ultimately, he was tasked with playing in the Top 4 of a conference champion team as a rookie, and he didn't embarrass himself. In this league, that's pretty impressive. I'm sure there are young players that deserve to get spotlighted here, but as the lone true rookie contributor, I thought Augustus deserved my full attention.

Code:
165 words

TASK FIVE: Itâ€™s Zamboni time! The teams have been asked by the SHL offices to re-design their Zamboni with a Finals theme. Please use your creativity on this and make it specific to one of the teams in the finals. Must include a logo from a team in the Finals and a color scheme appropriate to the team.

[Image: ncqntfg.jpg]

TASK SEVEN: Design a t-shirt or a rally towel for one of the teams in the finals. Must include some text (a slogan), the teamâ€™s logo and a local sponsor for the giveaway.

[Image: XcUbKRX.png]

</div>

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